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������̳ Teach > School Radio > Assemblies and Collective Worship
KS1 audio: Something to Think About / KS2 audio: Together

Themes: celebrating Palm Sunday; visiting a donkey sanctuary where abandoned donkeys are cared for.

Before the programme

• Show the children the focus image. What animal is it?
• What things do children already know about donkeys?
• Do they know any stories with donkeys in?
• What’s the longest or most exciting journey that children have been on?
• What might it be like to travel on a journey on the back of a donkey? Share ideas.

Programme content:

1. Welcome and introduction: A rather extraordinary sound starts the programme today because Ben is out and about visiting Abbey Hey Donkey Sanctuary. He talks to some children who are visiting too and also to Debbie who works with the sanctuary.
2. Song: ‘Trotting, trotting’ (Come and Praise, no. 128). Encourage the children to join in with as much as they can.
3. Feature: Ben visits Abbey Hey Donkey Sanctuary and speaks to Debbie who works thre about caring for the donkeys and also their connection with Easter and the story of Palm Sunday.
4. Story: Dan the donkey. An original story by Rachel Boxer. Dan is a little donkey with big ambitions and big dreams. The other donkeys in his field make fun of him, until one day, Dan’s big moment arrives and he takes part in one of the most significant journeys ever…
5. Reflection: on the events of Palm Sunday and how you’ll celebrate Easter with your family. Ensure everyone is listening carefully.
6. Prayer: Thanking God for the life of Jesus. The children can listen or join in with ‘Amen’ at the end if they wish to make the prayer their own.

After the programme:

Talk about the story

• Why did Dan stop dreaming about his big plans?
• Have you ever felt like this? What did you do about it?
• How do you think he felt when he was chosen for the special task of carrying Jesus into Jerusalem?
• Have you ever been chosen to do a special job? How did you feel?
• If you were Dan, what might you have told your donkey friends about when you got home?

Follow-up activities:

• Find out how Palm Sunday is celebrated around the world. Are there elements of the celebrations that are the same all around the world? Which celebration would you most like to be a part of and why?

• Consider the symbol of the Palm Cross and how it links the different aspects of the Easter story together.

• Find out more fascinating facts about donkeys and make them into an information book for your book corner. Include photos or pictures drawn by the children. Can you see the cross mark on some donkeys backs?